Legendary rock production/lighting designer Leroy Bennett, whose long line of collaborations includes Prince, Tina Turner, Faith Hill, Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga, Rammstein, Madonna, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars has installed 14 motorised pods on variable speed winches above the stage, each containing nine Ayrton MagicPanels in a 3 x 3 configuration.
Ayrton MagicPanel 602 is a moving head video panel composed of thirty-six 15W Osram RGBW LED light sources, each of which can be individually programmed. Each LED produces a powerful, tight 7.5° beam which together are born to map moving images in 3D space. MagicPanel 602 demonstrates infinite rotation in both tilt and pan axis and produces a sharp edge 15.000 lumen multidirectional beam of light, all of which can be managed by ArtNet, RDM or DMX.
The MagicPanels formed a major part of the NIN lighting rig where they not only run chases, graphic elements and overhead effects above the performers, and act as audience blinders, but also channel video content and pixel mapped images across a total of 4536 LEDs points.
Bennett employs the MagicPanel fixtures to create many effects throughout the course of the performance, using the capabilities of the individually programmable LEDs to delineate each song: "We tried to push the MagicPanels as far as time allowed us but still remain in keeping with the music," he states. "I found the MagicPanels very interesting and diverse which is why I chose them, and they have proved to be as bright, versatile and reliable as I had hoped."
Four months into NIN's seven month tour, Ayrton MagicPanels have certainly proved their durability. And, in terms of performance and design potential Bennett claims MagicPanels are 'great on all levels'. "The 360° pan and tilt, brightness and pixel mapping capabilities are all key to the success of these units. You'll be seeing a very large amount being used in the next few months!"
The MagicPanels were supplied by Upstaging, Inc. who purchased them through Ayrton's exclusive US distributor, Morpheus Lights. The MagicPanels are taking the rock world by storm with a further 64 Panels having been supplied by Upstaging, Inc to the Wiz Khalifa US tour, and 48 units supplied to Florida Georgia Line's tour by Morris Light and Sound. Tours by Walk the Moon and Brand New have also used MagicPanels supplied by 44 Designs, while Leroy Bennett has included 20 Ayrton MagicPanels, this time arrayed in five pods each containing four MagicPanels, in his design for the recent Kelly Clarkson US tour.
(Lee Baldock)
